Note to Disclaimers: I do not and never will own Harry Potter. All that belongs to J.K. Rowling so DON'T sue me. Please do enjoy the fic! ~Samenia~
If Simplicity Was the World (Part 2)
Harry hadn't noticed Cho coming, but Hermione did. She stood quickly, an annoyed sigh escaping her throat. 'What is up with her? Why is she out here?' She turned her head and saw Cho Chang walking quickly to where she and Harry were. 'I still don't know why she's here.' Hermione thought bitterly. Without making a ruckus, she turned around and helped Harry stand. He brushed off some of the dry mud that was caked on his robe and asked why she'd stood up for. Hermione pointed to Cho. Harry straightened his glasses, his eyes flashing with embarrassment. He turned to face Cho, dusting off his hair.
"Hello Harry, Hermione." Cho said cheerily, yet there was some annoyance behind it. "What are you doing out here?"
"I was just leaving." Hermione responded.
"Oh, I see," Cho gestured to the castle but turned her head in Harry's direction, "well, Harry, I came to tell you something. Dumbledore announced that there is a new T.A. this year. You missed it and since I'm one of the more responsible students, I thought I'd come to tell you."
Hermione sighed with some relief. 'So that is why she is here.' Beside her, Harry was shaking like a rat. When Hermione touched his shoulder, he shuddered. 'What is wrong with him?' He looked at her, his eyes nervous. Hermione pointed to where Cho was walking up the hill to the castle. She jerked her head in Cho's direction as if directing Harry to follow. He nodded slowly. They began to follow at a fairly slow pace until halfway up the hill, Harry's pace became fast, his long strides leaving Hermione behind. She scowled in anger. 'Well, it's not like he knows that I'm in love with him.' Harry chatted idly with Cho. Hermione fumed in the back until she could take it no longer. As they reached the castle gates, Hermione steered off into another direction, her steps taking her far from where she had been going. 'They won't notice I'm gone, especially Cho.'
A cool breeze blew past, the chilly air nipped at her face and nose. Small puddles of mud flew up where Hermione had stepped. She was sick of being left out and ignored. 'It doesn't matter; I'm quite used to it.' Her angry stomps created an eerie pounding on the wet grass; her eyes filled to the brim with tears. She wanted to cry, but she refused to release what she'd held inside for so many years. 'I will not cry over stupid Harry Potter!' Abruptly, Hermione spun around and walked back to the castle. When she entered the common room, the site of flaming red hair greeted her. She walked over and sat down next to her friend. "Something wrong Ron?"
"No. What are you doing here?" Ron asked.
"Nothing, I just came back from a walk. Are you waiting for Lavender?" She grinned slightly. Ron shrugged. "Well, I'll see you later then. Tell Harry we have a meeting later tonight."
"Can I ask you a question?" Ron said suddenly; he patted the seat next to him. Hermione turned around, walked back and sat next to him. "The reason you're acting strange, well, does it involve Harry and Cho?"
"Why do you ask that?" Hermione chuckled nervously.
"It does, doesn't it? You don't have to lie to me Hermione. We've been friends for six years now." Ron said. She could no longer hide the hurt that filled her. Hermione burst into tears and collapsed on Ron's shoulder. He rubbed her back affectionately, all the while whispering soothing words in her ears. "It's all right Hermione. You know I'm always here for you."
"Thanks Ron." She sniffled and wiped her tears away. "I just wish I could tell him, but now with Cho, I…I don't think it'll be possible. My chances have dropped by 99%."
"That is pure nonsense, Hermione Granger." Ron scolded. "When have you ever given up?"
Hermione snorted sarcastically. "Let me see...probably ever since fourth year." Ron gave her a look. Hermione sniffled once again but gave him a weak smile. Straightening herself upwards, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for being here Ron. I think I'm going to go see Ginny now, goodbye!" She patted his shoulder lightly before exiting the room.
'That Hermione has got to do something. This is getting worse and worse.' Ron sighed, letting himself slip farther into the armchair. Ron's eyes were sliding shut when he felt someone's stare burning thru him. He opened his eyes. Blue eyes met emerald green. "Something you need Harry?"
"No thanks, Ron. I just haven't been feeling too uppity lately." Harry muttered and plopped onto the nearest couch. How is Lavender?"
"Oiy, Lavender is good. What about Hermione, Harry? How is that spitfire?" Ron questioned.
"How would I know? She hasn't talked to me lately." Harry mumbled angrily. "It's like she can't stand the sight of me."
"I doubt that, my friend." Ron sighed. "I truly doubt that."
In the sixth year girls' dormitories…
"So where were you yesterday, Ginny?" Hermione inquired while placing her books in her trunk.
Ginny shifted in her seat. She sighed in exasperation. "Oh, I was with Neville. He asked me for help on something. I still can't see why it is so hard for him to do a simple potion!"
"Ginny, I've been thinking the same thing for six years now, but he will eventually get it." She looked at her watch. "Oiy, look at the time, Ginny, you should be off to bed." Ginny nodded and scampered to her dorms. Finally alone, Hermione began to ponder her situation once more. So Harry didn't like her; she supposed she could live with that. Her mind wandered to the thought of Lavender and Ron. 'They are just right for each other.' She practically fell over laughing at that thought. She was in a fit of giggles when Parvati entered. "Hello Parvati…um, where is Lavender?"
"Oh as if you wouldn't know, Hermione." Parvati said with delight. "She's out with Ron. They've been gone for quite some time now."
"I see." She wrote a note in her book. Parvati was rummaging through her trunk. "Is there something I can help you with, Pav?"
"Actually, yes there is. Would you mind helping me find out some good beautifying charms?" Parvati questioned. "I could really use some right about now."
"I highly doubt that Miss Patil, but if you are sure..?" Her eyes twinkled. Parvati nodded. She agreed. "I'll be back in an hour. I'm going to the library to do some research."
Hermione went all the way down the stairs and thru the halls of waxed floors. The Great Hall was empty, as was the common room, save for Ron and Lavender who were seated on the couch, sleeping. Hermione strolled past them silently for she was intent on not waking them. When she arrived in the library, Hermione set to work. Madame Pince came over every once in a while to ask if she needed help, but Hermione politely refused. When she had found what she needed, she started back to the dormitories.
"You are finally awake!" She giggled as she spotted Lavender sitting up.
Lavender turned in time to see Hermione enter; a stack of books was under her arms. "Where were you?"
"I was in the library doing some research for Pav." Hermione said cheerfully. "Are you going to come upstairs?"
"Sure, but I think Ron is going to stay." Lavender replied as she placed Ron in a comfortable position. "He'll have to get over it. Come Herms, let's go!"
Later on, after dinner-in the common room…
She stared at him as if he was a god. Instead of telling him, Hermione simply gazed at him. Not too long after dinner, Lavender and Ron had fallen asleep again, leaving Harry and Hermione to stare at the leaping fire. It barely dawned on Hermione that maybe being down in the common room with Harry, while their friends slept, did not look good. She decided to ignore it. Across from her, Harry was looking out the window at the snow that began to fall. Hermione looked puzzled. 'How can there be snow at this time of year?' She stood up, curiously examining the snowflakes from inside their protective place. "Harry, it shouldn't be snowing at this time, right? Isn't it a bit odd?"
He shook his head. "Probably not, but sometimes that is how the weather is."
"Oh, I guess so. What are you thinking about?" She asked while seating herself next to him.
"Well, definitely nothing in particular." He said in a low voice. He allowed himself to fall sideways, his head meeting with her lap. Hermione felt a chill shoot down her spine. Involuntarily, Hermione began to run her fingers thru his tousled hair, which at the present moment, had tamed down enough for her to miss his tangles. Harry felt like he was in heaven. Here he was, sitting by the fire while snowflakes fell outside, with is best friend, Hermione Granger, running her lithe fingers throughout his hair. He didn't think anything could be as great. Hermione, on the other hand, was finding it hard to resist just pulling him up and kissing him. Of course, she knew all too well that sooner or later, Cho would be back to take him away. Her heart ached at that thought.
By now, Harry had received a good brushing of his hair. She found him sleeping. Laying him down on the couch, Hermione crossed the entrée way to the portrait hole and walked thru it. Her eyes drooped slightly; Hermione retired to her dormitory. Plopping on her bed, she let a sigh escape her throat before rolling over sideways. She'd been sleeping for no more than 30 minutes when a voice interrupted her.
"Hey," The voice said. She jolted up and peered through the four-poster bed sheets. "Looks like you've had one hell of a day."
She let out another sigh and threw a pillow at the figure standing in the doorway. "Ron, could you please not wake me up next time? You're just as bad as Harry. Wait a minute, how did you get the door open?"
"Lavender let me borrow the key. She wanted me to fetch you for a late night snack." Ron helped her up from her bed. "And we also wanted to tell you that this festive "meeting" starts in twenty minutes."
"Oh all right, but just get out of here, Ron Weasley!" Hermione groaned. She pushed him out and attempted to tidy up a bit.
His laughs echoed throughout the dorm as he exited. Hermione stood in the middle of a mess of robes, her hair askew and tangled. 'I look like something the cat dragged in.' She sighed mentally before heading down the hall to the head boy/girl's bathroom. Rolling her eyes in a suggestive manner, she slipped into the bathroom and locked the door. Relaxing in the lovely bathtub would have to wait for another time. She quickly dressed, and made her way down to the empty Gryffindor common room. Instantly, her eyes fell upon Harry-who at that moment-was whispering something to Ron. The redheaded boy sniggered before returning to his snacks. Hermione snorted to herself as she made her way to the seat that was between Harry and Ron. After she had piled her plate with sweets, she chanced a quick glance up at Harry.
He was drinking pumpkin juice from his glass. Despite the fact that Harry was seemingly occupied, Hermione tapped his shoulder impatiently, her annoyance mounting by each passing second.
"Yes Hermione, can I help you?" Harry finally answered.
"Are you going to drink all of that yourself," She interrogated, "Cause' if you aren't, I would like to have some."
"Oh no, go right ahead and have some. Here, I'll pour it for you." Harry replied uncertainly while he poured her some in a glass. He turned to Ron. "Do you guys want anymore?"
"No thank you, Harry." Lavender said. Ron nodded. "Hey, what time is it? I hope it isn't too late; I want to get some good sleep."
"I think that you'll get you sleep." Hermione answered with assurance. "Oiy, would you look at the time! I think I need to go to bed as well. Lavender, are you coming?"
"Yes, I'll be right there." Lavender replied. "Goodnight Ron."
They exited the common room and headed up the stairs when Hermione spotted two people by entrance. Curiously-she bid Lavender goodnight-she walked towards the figures. She gasped. "What are you two doing here?"
(Sorry if this seems like it cuts off too soon. Ok, I've decided to keep it H/H since that what people liked and I like it too. Anyway, hope to have the next one out soon. Please R&R!)~Samenia~